Opinion

OPINION: Richard Rhodes, the Conservative PCC for Cumbria talks about the challenges facing a rural police force and why all merger plans must be resisted.

OPINION: Matthew Ellis contributes his views to the consultation on a new delivery model for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service (SFARS) and argues that an integrated police and fire service should be considered.

OPINION: Jon Harvey provides his impressions from the launch last week of the report by the Committee on Standards in Public Life, on leadership, ethics and accountability in policing plus a personal response by Lord Bew the committee chairman, addressing the six key questions Jon raises.

OPINION: Former Conservative MP and successful businessman Sir Graham Bright talks about putting victims first and changing the culture of policing.

OPINION: The debate on moving away from a police performance target culture continues. Simon Guilfoyle argues that the concept of ditching targets needs wider thought about how police performance management can evolve in their absence.

OPINION: Supt Paul Clements of the City of London Police sets out his personal experience of the "Direct Entry Superintendents" scheme

OPINION: Former airline pilot Ron Ball, the Independent PCC for Warwickshire, talks to Nick Alatti about alliances, cuts and Plebgate.

OPINION: Elizabeth Crowhurst, a commentator on criminal justice reform argues that despite some progress, policing still requires radical reform over the next five years to meet the challenges of reduced resources and new types of crime.

OPINION: Academic and former Thames Valley Police chief constable, Peter Neyroud argues that policing needs to move beyond the debate of targets v no targets.

OPINION: Kate Hall's campaign for fairer treatment of police widows has attracted over 75,000 signatories to her online petition. She needs 25,000 more signatures to bring the issue formally to Parliament's attention. Kate sets out how police widows are unfairly treated, notes that changes have already been made to police pension rules in Northern Ireland, and asks for your support for her petition.

OPINION: A transcript of the Victims' Commissioner, Baroness Newlove's memorable, moving and informative speech at the opening of Compass House, a new victim and witness support facility in Kent.

OPINION: PCC for Kent Ann Barnes looks back over a stormy tenure in office but says she has come through it more resilient and committed than ever. But is she prepared to run again in May 2016?

OPINION: Jon Collins discusses the measures required to ensure restorative justice delivers and how that success can be measured.

OPINION: Former county councillor turned PCC for Derbyshire, Alan Charles, argues for a grown-up debate on drugs policy, more powers for PCCs and a cautious approach to privatisation.

OPINION: With budget challenges and greater demands on police officers and staff, Elena Collins asks whether policing has the leaders it needs and what makes a good leader.

OPINION: Neighbourhood policing is high on the public agenda. Chief Constable Simon Cole of Leicestershire Police and National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead on Local Policing and Partnerships argues for a progressive approach that harnesses public engagement and broad partnerships with the private and public sector.

OPINION: Conservative PCC for Essex and the current chairman of the Association of PCCs, Nick Alston talks targets, tasers and technology.

OPINION: John Tizard puts the case for the new government to commission an independent enquiry on public service outsourcing.

OPINION: Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, Martyn Underhill highlights the benefits of mental health triage pilots in Dorset and across the country.

OPINION: Charlotte Pickles of the Reform think-tank suggests three key areas of focus for policing so as to deliver "more for less".

OPINION: Chief Superintendent John Sutherland of the Metropolitan Police responds to an article in The Guardian recently by a prize winning Met police constable explaining why he quit the force.

OPINION: Martin Surl, independent Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire and former serving officer, talks to Nick Alatti about the General Election result, tackling cyber-crime and progressive initiatives for the policing of young people.

OPINION: Northamptonshire's Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner, Adam Simmonds gives his reaction to the Queen's Speech.

OPINION: Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales and a former Labour minister and MP, Alun Duncan gives his reaction to the Queen's Speech.